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ERA Franchise Systems LLC 1 Campus Drive Parsippany, NJ 07054 (973) 428-9700 |
Media contact: Steven Alessandrini (973) 496-7904 steven.alessandrini@era.com |
Connect Together Through a Successful e-Conference
by
Jack Kornfeind, Senior Vice President,
ERA Real Estate National Service Operations
PARSIPPANY, NJ, July 17, 2003 – In an age of advancing computer technology, e-conferencing is becoming a popular way for the real estate industry to cost-effectively, link employees together for meetings, conferences, briefings and educational classes, globally. Jack Kornfeind, senior vice president, ERA Real Estate National Service Operations, has some helpful real estate e-conferencing advice.
Thanks to the emerging e-technology being utilized at ERA Real Estate, e-conferencing is giving corporate staff, brokers, and sales professionals a portal and associated Internet technology so although they are located at different locations nationally, they can all connect together for meetings without leaving the office.
E-conferencing can include:
- Video Conferencing - Real-time audio and video, with two or more participants at two or more multi-point destinations.
- Audio/Video Data Conferencing - Real-time data, and can include two or more participants at two or more multi-point destinations, as well as application sharing, text messaging, and file transferring.
- Begin your e-conference with an enthusiastic greeting and be sure the audience responds to the greeting. Most human resource professionals will tell you the impression you make in the first 10 seconds of a meeting can determine how people react to you. Also, ask the audience questions throughout the meeting, to make sure that they remain attentive and alert.
- Make the conference fun. Tell a joke, share a funny story about life outside the office, ask trivia questions, share anecdotes or announce upcoming events. Provide interesting and enjoyable audience interactive information or lessons. Any of these things can help liven the mood of attendees. If your meetings are pleasant, you are likely to have more attendees, a more enjoyable e-conference and less absentees in the future.
- Distribute an agenda and other materials needed throughout the meeting. Agendas can be distributed in hard-copy or electronic form.
- Provide information in an interesting and creative way during your e-conference. Although you want your visual presentation to remain professional, a little creativity and imagination can help get your point across more effectively and will hold the attendees interest.
- Create a simple background picture or photo for the slides. Backgrounds can help keep the visual interesting; however, a background that is too busy will distract your audience and will confuse the intended message of the slide.
- Incorporate animation, logos, photos or other images to keep the slides interesting and help the audience visualize your text and accompanying narration.
- Keep text to a minimum. Text should be simple so that the audience focuses on what you are saying and not what has to be read on the slide.
- Define a color scheme and font and keep it constant.
Whether a small online meeting or a large Web seminar, simple e-conferencing technology, can help employees communicate more effectively.
About ERA Franchise Systems LLC
ERA Franchise Systems LLC is a global leader in the residential real estate industry with more than 30 years experience in developing consumer-oriented products and services. It is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) and part of its Real Estate Franchise Group. The ERA real estate network includes more than 28,000 brokers and sales associates throughout the United States and 29 other countries and territories. Each ERA office is independently owned and operated. ERA information is available to consumers on the Internet at www.ERA.com. ERA properties can also be viewed at www.REALTOR.com®.
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